Explosion connector with improved insulating means



May 19, 1970 D. T. .JAMES 3,513,249

EXPLOSION CONNECTOR WITH IMPROVED INSULATING MEANS Filed Deo. 24, 1968 ref' United States Patent O 3,513,249 EXPLOSION CONNECTOR WITH IMPROVED INSULATING MEANS David T. James, Dekalb, Ill., assignor to Ideal Industries Inc., Sycamore, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 24, 1968, Ser. No. 786,726 Int. Cl. H01r 5/10; H02g 15/18 U.S. Cl. 174-72 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for connecting wires, cables or the like, and more specifically, to an explosive actuated connector /for joining the ends of wires, cables or the like having an improved insulating mean-s.

A primary object of this invention is an improved insulating means for a branch or multi-ported connector including a substantially non-deformable outer jacket, an explosion means and a deformable inner shell.

A further object is an apparatus for connecting a plurality of wires, cables or the like by crimping them together through the use of an inner shell deformed by a charge of an explosive.

Another object is a compact explosion connector that is economical to make and may be safely operated to energize all the connecting elements simultaneously.

Another object is a connector of the multi-ported type Another object is an explosion connector having a plurality of ports for receiving wires, cables or the like at various angles.

Other object-s and advantages will be apparent from the followingvspecication, claims and drawings for this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a four-ported explosion connector showing the improved insulating means;

FIG. 2 is a similar cross-sectional view through another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through still another embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional View showing an insulating cuil in more detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The explosion connector has been shown in the figures as a branch or multi-ported connector including an outer jacket 12 and at least one inner shell 14 sealed together to form a chamber 16 with at least one explosion means 18 located in the chamber. The inner shells 14 are deformable members and open at least one end to receive the wires, cables or the like. An improved insulating means 20 including an insulating envelope 22 whichmay utilize explosive charges to join together vWires, cables or the like at various time sequences.

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and insulating cutis 24 provides protection against electrical shock.

FIG. l shows a branch connector 10 having four ports with the central axis of all four ports in one plane. The outer jacket 12 is made from a material that is substantially non-deformable. The inner shells 14 when mounted for electrical applications, are made from a conductive material that is deformable. Each shell may be mounted in a sleeve 26 of the outer jacket 12. In this embodiment the deformable shells 14 are closed at one end and open at the other end for receiving electrical wires or similar objects.

The explosion means 18 in this embodiment consists of a single explosive charge located at any convenient place in the chamber 16 between the outer jacket 12 and the inner shells 14. The chamber .16 may be sealed by folding an overlapping portion of each sleeve 26 over a respective skirt portion 28 of each inner shell.

The insulating means 20 consists of an insulating envelope 22 and an insulating culi? 24 at the end of each sleeve 26. The insulating envelope 22 is formed by coating the outer jacket l12 with an electrical insulating material through such processes as dipping or spraying. The insulating cuffs 24, as shown in FIG. l, are cemented to the outer jacket 12 prior to the coating process. An important feature of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that it allows energizing of all the connecting elements simultaneously.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment for a four-ported connector 10 wherein the outer jacket includes an interior arrangement of ligatures 30 that form four separate isolated compartments or chambers 32. The inner shells 14 are similar to-those shown in FIG. l, however, the explosion means 18 consists of an explosive charge located in each of the four compartments 32. In addition, the insulating culs 24 differ from those shown in FIG. l in that they are cemented to the insulating er1- velope 22 after the envelope has been formed by a coating process. An important feature of this embodiment is that it allows for ignition of the explosive charges in any selected order thereby permitting sequential operation of the connector .10 at the discretion of the operator.

FIG. 3 shows still another embodiment for this invention. A vertically aligned inner shell 14 is cylindrical in shape with mutually aligned openings at each end for receiving the Wires, cables or the like. As in FIG. l an explosion means 18 consisting of a single explosive charge activates the connecting elements simultaneously.

In addition, since the coating process which forms the insulating envelope 22 may be applied at a suiciently high temperature to have deleterious effects on the eX- plosion means 18 it may be necessary to complete the mechanical assembly of the connector 10 after the coating process. As shown in FIG. 3 the horizontally aligned insulating cutis 2-4 may be cemented to the sleeves 26 of the outer jacket 12 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 1. However, a clearance space 34 is provided between the cuffs 24' and the sleeves 26 of the outer jacket to admit assembly tooling.

FIG. 4 shows another method for attaching an insulating cuit 24 to the connector 10. In this embodiment the cuff 24 is mechanically attached to the connector by an annular ridge 36 engaging an annular groove 38 in the outer jacket 12. The mechanical attachment of the cuff 24 to the connector may be applied before or after the coating process with the envelope 22 overlapping the cuff 24, as shown, or the cuff overlapping the envelope to provide suicient overlap lto create a length of potential gap necessary for safety.

The use, operation and function of this invention are as follows:

The explosion connector is adapted to join together the ends of wires or cables through use of an explosion means 18 which inwardly deforms an inner member 14 into crimping contact with the wires or cables.

The invention is shown as a branch or multi-ported connector 10 having sleeves 26 at various angles. It is important to note that the sleeves 26 need not radiate from the same plane.

The connector 10 may be adapted for either electrical or mechanical applications. When used for electrical applications both the inner shells 14 and certain sleeves 26 of the outer jacket 12 may be made from -a conductive material. This may be desirable for the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 when conduction is required from one port to another.

The chamber 16 or compartments 32 formed between the outer jacket 12 and the deformable inner shells 14 contain the explosion means 18. The explosion means 18 is set olf or ignited by an ignition means which has not been shown. The ignition means may be electrical, mechanical, application of heat, shock or other means suitable for the chosen explosive and application.

This invention permits either simultaneous or sequential operation of the explosion connector 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 a single explosive may deform the inner shells 14 in-to crimping contact with the wires or cables simultaneously. On the contrary the embodiment in FIG. 2 allows for sequential operation as each port of the connector is isolated by an arrangement of ligatures 30. The isolated compartments 32 permit variation in sequence of operation by allowing the explosion means 18 in each compartment to be activated when desired.

The insulating means 20 is preferably electrical insulation which may be made from a heat shrinkable preformed material. The insulating means 20 renders the connector safe to use without electrical post-insulation and includes an insulating envelope 22 and insulating cutis 24 which protect the connector 10 against electrical shock.

The insulating envelope 22 may be formed by dipping, spraying or otherwise coating the exterior of the outer jacket 12. The insulating cuffs 2-4 may be mechanically placed or cemented in place either before or after the coating process forming the insulating envelope 22. If the cuffs 24 are made from a heat shrinkable material they may be heated and shrunk to provide a seal around the elements being connected.

I claim:

1. A connector for joining wires, cables and the like including:

a generally nondeformable outer member having a central chamber with at least two openings leading into said chamber,

a deformable, generally tubular member having an open end and a closed end extending through each of said openings into said chamber with the closed end of each member located in the chamber and the open end of each member facing outwardly, at least a portion of each deformable member in said chamber being spaced from said generally nondeformable member,

each deformable member having a bore adapted to receive at least one wire, cable and the like, and

an explosive located in said chamber and of sufficient quantity, when exploded, to deform said deformable members into contact with 'the wire, cable and the like located in their respective bores.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that at least one parti-tion is located in said chamber and separates said deformable members from each other, and

a separate quantity of explosive is provided to deform each deformable member into engagement with its respective wire, cable and the like.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said nondeformable member is in the shape of a cross having four openings therein, and

a deformable, elongated tubular member open at both ends is positioned in said chamber and extends between an aligned pair of said openings of said nondeformable member.

4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said generally nondeformable outer member is formed of an electrically conductive material.

5. The structure of claim 4 further characterized in that said generally nondeformable outer member is covered by an insulating coating.

6. The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that an insulating funnel-shaped cufr" is provided for each opening into said chamber.

7. 'I'he structure of claim `6 further characterized in that said insulating cuis are formed separately and are attached to said nondeformable member.

y8. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said deformable, generally tubular members lie in a common plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,333,046 7/ 1967 Margis 174--84 3,364,304 1/ 1968 Modrey 174-94 FOREIGN PATENTS 815,044 6/ 1959 Great Britain.

DARRELL L. CLAY, Primary Examiner Us. c1. xn. 

